Church of Nossa Senhora da Anunciação, Mertola

The Convent of Santo António was founded in 1463 under the patronage of Infante D. Fernando, brother of D. Afonso V, and was reconstructed by King D. Manuel I in 1502. The cylindrical buttresses with conical finishes in the Manueline-Mudejar style, which is so prevalent in southern Portugal, are distinguishing characteristics of this church.

The monastery was built in the 17th century on the location of an ancient hermitage devoted to Nossa Senhora da Conceição. It comprises a church with mannerist and popular features, the cloister, and the convent building.

Beja Cathedral was built in 1590 on the site of an earlier church, also dedicated to St James the Great. The church, in Mannerist style, was built at the request of Archbishop Teotonio de Bragança and designed by the architect Jorge Rodriguez. The church was transformed into a cathedral by decree of the Congregation of the Sacred Consistory on 14th November 1925. On 4 June 1937, the church was transformed into a cathedral.